Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu: Murkomen has blood on his hands
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has launched a blistering attack on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing him of issuing unlawful and dangerous orders to police during the 25 June anti-government protests.
Speaking on a local television station on Monday, June 30, 2025, Nyutu condemned the police response to the demonstrations, saying it reflected a dangerous misuse of state power and an erosion of constitutional values.
“Kipchumba Murkomen ordered the police to shoot and kill anybody who approached the police station. ‘Shoot, shoot.’ And let’s be fair to him—he didn’t say secure, he said shoot,” Nyutu declared.
The senator, a trained lawyer and vocal parliamentary figure said Murkomen’s behaviour marks a troubling departure from his previously principled stance on law and order.
“Over the years, Kipchumba Murkomen has proven to be a reasonable person, someone who understands the law,” Nyutu observed.
“But the Murkomen of today, after getting power, money and proximity to the President, seems to have forgotten what he stands for.”
The 25 June protests, which erupted nationwide in response to a contentious Finance Bill and broader governance concerns, saw police officers confront demonstrators with force in various counties. Human rights groups have since raised alarms over reports of excessive use of force, including fatalities and injuries.
Nyutu said police appeared to be operating under political directives, rather than the law. “The police have not been shooting to immobilise recently. They have been shooting to kill,” he said, adding that such actions went against established policing principles.
The police conduct
He cited a disturbing incident in Murang’a County, where a young man was shot despite having left the protest scene.
“Everybody saw what happened. This is somebody the police harassed, and he had already left the scene. I don’t know what came over the police officer.”
The senator also raised concern over the blurred lines between political rhetoric and legal commands to police officers.
“The minister has no place in law to order police officers. But do the police understand these legal intricacies? Because I hear they take orders first and question later,” he said.
Nyutu questioned why some police stations, reportedly targeted during the protests, appeared to offer no resistance. He suggested the possibility of higher-level instructions being issued to officers to stand down.
“You cannot attack a police station and there’s no response from officers on duty,” he said. “Unless orders were given not to respond and to go away.”
While stopping short of directly accusing the government of orchestrating the violence, Nyutu hinted at coordinated political influence. “Of course, I’m not saying I have evidence,” he added, “but you add one and one.”
He also claimed that ruling party politicians routinely overstep their mandate by interfering with police operations during political events.
“You will go to a political gathering and see a pro-government politician telling the Officer Commanding Station not to let an opposition figure speak and they will follow the orders,” he said.
